31 March 2014, Juba/Rome - The British government has released $13.7 million in emergency funding to FAO, in order to help conflict-affected families restore their agriculture-based livelihoods and stave off an increasingly alarming food security situation. The money comes from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID). This contribution will enable FAO to help farmers get crops in the ground in time for the upcoming planting season. The current planting season runs from now through early June in the most affected areas. FAO has appealed for $77 million to assist about 2.3 million people with immediate support designed to help them plant rapidly maturing vegetables and staple crops, catch fish, and contain livestock diseases.

Dominique Burgeon is the Director of FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Division. In the following interview he describes what he saw in his recent mission to South Sudan and what this funding will support going forward.